But drama erupted outside the courthouse as minders for the 48-year-old, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster, grappled with TV cameramen.

One telly man was pushed over a metal street bollard and another thrown into a fence amid ugly scenes witnessed by a handful of Street fans.

Dad-of-two Le Vell was in tears as he appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court under his real name Michael Turner.

The star is charged with six rapes, six indecent assaults and seven allegations of sexual activity with a child over a nine-year period.

All the offences are alleged to have happened in Trafford, Greater Manchester, between September 2001 and September 2010 and involve the same girl.

The seven sexual activity offences are said to have been committed when the girl was under 13.

Le Vell spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during an eight-minute hearing.

He was allowed to stand in the glass-fronted dock of Court No11 with the door open.

Four members of his family sat on seats normally reserved for officials as the public gallery was full.

District Judge Khalid Qureshi asked Le Vell’s solicitor Richard Gowthorpe if there was any indication as to how the actor would plead.

He replied: “No indication of plea today other than the fact that the charges are contested and will be fully contested in the Crown Court.”

Mr Gowthorpe told the court the allegations were “of the most serious nature”.

The case was committed to Manchester Crown Court, where Le Vell will appear on March 20. He has surrendered his passport as part of his bail conditions.

The others are that he does not contact named witnesses or have unsupervised contact with any child under 14.

Le Vell nodded to the judge that he understood those conditions.

He arrived at the court with two security men, who pushed a TV cameraman over a bollard.

As the star left, his guards shoved a photographer backwards into a bollard by placing a finger on his windpipe. He complained to police at the scene.

Another TV cameraman complained he had been pushed into a fence.

Le Vell was first arrested over alleged child sex offences in September 2011 and was told three months later there was insufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution.

The star said afterwards he was “delighted” to have been “completely exonerated” and dismissed the claims as a “complete lie”.

On February 14, Alison Levitt QC, principal legal adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said she had “very carefully reviewed” the case and there was “sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest” to charge him.

Le Vell, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, said he was innocent of the allegations and intended to “fight them vigorously”.

He said: “I will now put all my efforts into clearing my name.’’

He is one of TV’s most famous faces after playing mechanic Kevin for 30 years. ITV has said he will not appear in the show pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.

Le Vell, who recently had his Corrie contract extended, split from his wife of 26 years Janette, 46, last year.